while trying not to obsess over the news coverage of Hurricane Gustav...
a meme from Kathryn at Good in Parts, who says: "Steve, over at Mustard Seed Shavings, invited me to play along with this - and as I'm as busy procrastinating as ever, it seemed like a really good plan.
Five events and a chance to record the impact they had on you:
(I'm going to replace "Mrs. Thatcher's Resignation on 22 November 1990" with Hurricane Katrina...as I do not recall having paid much attention to Mrs. Thatcher in 1990. Sorry, but there it is...)
Princess Diana's death - 31 August 1997
I was in Connecticut visiting my friend Terri, with another friend, Christie. We had known each other in College Station and had all moved on to our next lives that year...Christie was in Washington, DC. We got together for a long weekend of catching up. Terri's boyfriend called to say that something terrible had happened to Princess Diana. For some reason, Terri and I were glued to the TV, deeply saddened, as if it affected us personally, and Christie thought we were nuts (which we were.)
Attack on the twin towers - 11 September 2001
I arrived at work that morning and then-student assistant Amy told me that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center! "They think it's terrorism!" she said.
I remember clearly that nothing made any sense to me about it. I couldn't think of any World Trade Center besides the one in Dallas...
why would anyone want to attack that?
I went down the hall to David's office where there was a TV. The news was on. My visitors from London were there. I just sat and stared. The appointment I'd arranged for the visitors came, and they met with him. I remember thinking, 'how can you go on with things like that?' I was in total shock.
England's World Cup Semi Final v Germany - 4 July 1990
I have no idea, I recall my roommate passionately watching those games but I'm not a sports fan.
President Kennedy's Assassination - 22 November 1963
I have no memory of it. "I weren't here yet."
Hurricane Katrina, August 30, 2005
The impact this had on me? In one way, none. No water came into my house. I was not in danger. In another way, profound. It shook my faith in my country and its ability to do the right things and care for its people. It made the blogging community real in a way it hadn't been before, because I knew people who were there (or who had evacuated from there). It reminded me to always be grateful for the beauty that comes after pain.
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give -BCP
or weep this night, and give your angels charge over
those who sleep.
rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the
suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and
all for your love’s sake. Amen.
